Illuminated sign



Patented Aug. 1, 1939 ILLUMINATED SIGN L. Lauve, Jr., Baltimore, Md.

Application January 12, 1939, Serial No. 250,624

2 Claims.

- ings within the housing. The housing may takev numerous forms, the simplest form being a boxlike structure having a panel covering one side of 15 the box in which aplurality of openings are made to receive the light transmitting element. The openings are arranged in the particular shape or manner, which will when equipped with the light transmitting element, give the desired lighting efiect.

The light transmitting elements are made from material such as phenolic, or resinous compounds and like plastics similar to those sold under the trade names Catalin" and Lucite. One of the g characteristics of this material is that when a' light is applied to one end or along the side of an elongated bar, the bar tends to transport or carry the light to the end thereof. Another characteristic is that when it is slightly heated it w".i 30 become relatively resilient and flexible.

, The primary object of the invention is to provide a light ray transmitting element that can be inserted from the outer side of the panel without additional securing means and which will not 35 become loosened or dislodged by vibrations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an element which will produce a more uniform lighting effect than those now in present use.

A further object of the invention is to provide 40 an element for transmitting and diffusing light in sign displays which will be a great deal more economical both in manufacture and installation.

While several of the objects have been specifically set forth above, other objects will appear 45 from the following specifications taken in connection with'the drawing which forms a part of the application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the housing or casing.

50 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one form of light transmitting element.

Fig. 4 is a modified view of the element similar 65 to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of means used for installing and holding the element within the housing or panel 5.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form ofv a light transmitting element.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation ofa modified form of the element shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is-a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the panel 5 taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing diagrammatically still .another modified form of the element shown in Fig. 6. I

Referring to the present embodiment of the invention which is for the purpose of illustration only there is provided a housing or casing comprising a side wall 4, a front panel 5, and a rear panel 1. The panel 5 is provided with a plurality of openings 6, which are of predetermined size for receiving the light transmitting element. These elements are held in position within the panel by suitable holding means, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now in particular to Figs. -3 and 4 the light transmitting element 8 is formed with an enlarged head member 8'.which is adapted to be exposed on the outer side of the panel 5. The

body portion 8, which is of smaller diameter than the head, extends outwardly from the head member, and is tapered toward the outer end thereof. Extending about the element and adjacent the head, is a groove l0. Adjacent the head 8 is a shoulder 9 adapted to bear against the outer surface 5' of the panel 5, when the element is placed in position in the opening 6. Leading from the outer end 8" of the element and extending inwardly toward the head is an opening, or chamber ll, of varying depth. The inner surface it of the chamber I4 is of substantially the same shape as the outer surface 8' of the head. This particular structure aids in giving to the'head. when illuminated, a more even lighting effect, and at the same time reduces the amount of light necessary to fully illuminate the element. The depth of the chamber i4 is determined by, the nature and color of the particular plastic material used.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, the structure of the element 20 is in many'respects substantially the same as that just described for the element 8 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, except for'the channel It, and is adapted to be used in the same manner in 'the opening 6 of the panel. The element 20 is provided with a head 20' and also a tapered body portion 20 extendingoutwardly from the head. Adjacent the head-is a groove 22, which is substantially the same size or slightly smaller than head-of the element is a shoulder 24 which normally rests against the outer surface of the 'panel member when the element is properly installed.

The head may be of any desired form. Figs. 3

and 5 show a convexed or spherical head, Fig. 4

shows a conical shaped head, Fig. 6, a modified convex head, Fig. 7 shows a fiat head and Fig. 8 shows a diagrammatically concave head at 26.

In forming the openings 6 within the panel 5, the area immediately surrounding the openings is slightly depressed or tapered inwardly toward the inner surface 5" as shown best in Fig. 8 at 28. This is a'decided advantage when insertingthe elements within the openings, as the taper of the opening presents a relatively smooth surface in contact with the element wall.

Several methods are shown and described for installing and facilitating the installation of the elements within the openings. Referring first to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the tapered body portion 8 has adjacent the head 8' a groove l0. Located adjacent the groove on the opposite side from the head is a thread l3 which is formed integral with the body portion 8. The purpose of this thread is to advance the element through the opening 6 to the groove l0, and is preferably short, being not over one and a half turns about the body of the element. The thread is designed to terminate at the outer edge of the groove l0 and be of such size as to tightly fit within the opening. This means for advancing the element through the opening is also applicable to the solid element 20 shown in Figs'. 6 and 7.

When the elements are not provided with the thread as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, they may first be slightly heated until they become suificiently elastic to be compressible in order to facilitate their insertion into the panel. In this method the tapered end of the element is inserted within the aperture 6, and the element is forced therethrough until the groove 22 registers with the inner edge of the aperture where it will normally be held in position by the recovery of the compressed body. In some instances is helpful to apply to the element a lubricant of some character such as soap when forcing the element through the aperture, which can be easily removed.

The panel 5 may also be constructed from a relatively flexible, or pliable material such as thin sheet metal, cardboard, and etc. When materials of this nature are used for constructing the panel, the diameter of the aperture formed therein may be easily extended by the insertion of the light element. The aperture will regain substantially its previous form when the groove l0 about the light element is in registry with the aperture. I

Regardless of the form of the element, the outer tapered end portion must be equal to, or less in diameter than the depth of the groove adjacent the head in which the element is normally retained. e

The usual panel of this type requires the light transmitting elements to be inserted from the front and secured to the rear surface of the panel. This is very objectionable in that access must be had to the housing to reach the rear surface of the panel. These quarters are usually cramped and it requires a great deal of time, since a large number of light elements are required for each panel.

In use, any design or lettering effect may be outlined upon the panel by using these elements. When the body portions of the element are lighted from within the housing, the light is conveyed through the body of the element to the head portion which is located on the outer surface of the panel and presents a very brilliant lighting effect. The light source is usually supplied from suitable light bulbs 9 of any conventional design, and which are properly installed in the housing as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While the invention has been shown and described in a preferred form it is not intended that itbe limited thereto as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In an illuminated sign the combination of a sign panel having a front and back surface provided with an aperture therein, an elastic light transmitting element having an enlarged head which is normally positioned adjacent the front face of the said panel and a circular tapered body portion extending outwardly from the back surface and substantially perpendicular thereto, a circumferential groove about the body portion adjacent the said head having substantially the same cross sectional diameter of the thickness of the said panel, the diameter of the body portion within said groove being substantially the same as the diameter of the aperture for normally positioning the said lighting element within the said panel, the said aperture having its front edge bevelled slightly inwardly toward the rear surface of the panel, a portion of the body lying between the tapered end and the immediately adjacent groove being substantially larger in diameter than the said aperture, whereby a portion of the said elastic tapered body of the lighting element is compressed by the bevelled edge of the aperture when inserted within the aperture for retaining the same therein when the said lighting element is normally positioned within said panel.

2. In combination, a sign support comprising, a retaining panel having an aperture therein; a light transmitting element adapted to "be supported within said aperture, said sign panel having a front and back surface, said light transmitting element having an enlarged head which is normally positioned adjacent the front surface of the said panel and a body portion extending outwardly from the back surface and substantially perpendicular thereto, a circumferential groove about the body'portion of said element adjacent the head, the diameter of the body portion within said groove being substantially the same as the diameter of the aperture for normally positioning the said light element within the said panel, a retaining means carried by said element for retaining said element'within the aperture, said element retaining means comprising a portion of the body immediately adjacent the groove and lying between the same and the outwardly extended end of the body being slightly larger in diameter than the said aperture, one of said retaining means being slightly elastic, thereby allowing the said light element to be advanced through the aperture to the groove. 

